The Republic of Alberta - The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail published an article called "The Republic of Alberta" in 2003.

It can be read here.

In it, Mr. Gibbins (the president and CEO of the Canada West Foundation - a Calgary-based think tank) candidly talks about Alberta separation.

Mr. Gibbins is not a separatist. Not because there are economic advantages to Alberta's being in Confederation, but despite the fact there aren't. "It's been a long time since I've heard an economic case for being part of Canada.

Frustrations continue to build. The economic ties between West and East are weakening, so there's less glue keeping us together. Over and over, the figure $7-billion is drummed into the heads of Albertans who now believe that's the annual cost of the privilege of listening to lectures on national unity from Mr. Dion.

Mr. Dion, says Mr. Gibbins, "reflects a deeper problem within the federal government.

Yet despite this, Mr. Gibbins is opportunistic about confederation.

"It may be foolish on my part, but, in 2004, we're going into a federal election with new leaders in all four parties. I have some hope we can make headway in engaging Western Canadians more enthusiastically in a national government." Even if it doesn't make dollars and sense, Roger Gibbins is a Canadian.

Well, it is now the end of 2019. 2020 is soon to be upon us.  Mr Gibbins has been holding this optimism for 16 additional years. And things are not better, they are far worse.

Einstein said,

"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results".